Keep things on an upbeat footing

Chris Hayes on his MSNBC show All In with Chris Hayes was commenting about President Biden not taking any bait from reporters about the tensions between China and the US after his conference with Xi. Hayes then stated that Biden was looking to “keep things on a an upbeat footing.” This is a mashup of “be on even footing” (to be equal in power or ability) and “upbeat” (inspiring or exuding happiness). A big thank you to Ron MacDonald for hearing this one and sending it in.

I let the worm out of the bag

The speaker was trying to say “I opened a can of worms” but instead uttered this mashup of  “opening up a can of worms” (a situation that once started will have a negative outcome) and “let the cat out of the bag” (to reveal a secret by accident). Both describe opening up something. “Bag worms” also might have been on the speaker’s mind. Regardless, this is a nice incongruent conflation (blend of two idioms with different meanings). A big thanks to Erik Ivison for unintentionally saying this one and sending it in!

Humutilated

This one is special as it came from “The Master”‘s lips (for further details on “The Master”, check out my first malaphor book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205). He was talking about how the Jets had beaten the Bills handily, and used this word. It is a word blend of “humiliate” and “mutilate”.

Someone asked me if my word blend malaphors are actually portmanteaus. I don’t think so. The main difference is that a portmanteau is an intentional word blend while a malaphor is unintentional.  There are other differences:

A portmanteau is a combination of two (or more) words or morphemes, and their definitions, into one new word. A portmanteau word generally combines both sounds and meanings, as in smog, coined by blending smoke and fog. More generally, it may refer to any term or phrase that combines two or more meanings, for instance, the term “wurly” when describing hair that is both wavy and curly.

The word “portmanteau” was first used in this context by Lewis Carroll in the book Through the Looking-Glass (1871), in which Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice the coinage of the unusual words in Jabberwocky, where “slithy” means “lithe and slimy” and “mimsy” is “flimsy and miserable”. Humpty Dumpty explains the practice of combining words in various ways by telling Alice,

‘You see it’s like a portmanteau—there are two meanings packed up into one word.’

My single word blend malaphors are unconscious blends of words to make an unintentional new word. The word sounds or looks correct at first blush, but then on closer examination is incorrect. Examples on my website include “Buckminster Palace” (Buckingham and Westminster, and/or possibly Buckminster Fuller) and “split-minute decision” (split second and last minute).

A shout out to Mark Green for hearing this one many years ago from The Master and sharing it today.

Just got to bite the pill

Cale Makar, an NHL player on the Colorado Avalanche, was talking about his play against the Kraken:

“Looking back on it, obviously I never want to put myself in a position like that. That one’s on me. At the end of the day, just got to bite the pill.”

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/makar-avalanche-return-to-face-kraken-for-1st-time-since-fiery-playoff-series/

This is a great confluent conflation of “bite the bullet” and “bitter pill to swallow”, both meaning to do something unpleasant because it is necessary. “Bite” and “swallow” are closely associated, probably producing this mental mixup. Props to Andy Jacobs for catching this one and passing it on.

I don’t want to be a stick on a log

The speaker did not want to be the only one not joining in on an activity and said this great malaphor. It is a mashup of “stick in the mud” (one who is unadventurous and who resists change) and “bump on a log” (inactive or stupidly silent). Both idioms describe someone who is not motivated or is resistant to progress. It’s not quite a congruent conflation but very close. A “stick” and a “log” are both made of wood, making this mental mixup happen. A big thanks to Sally Minnock for unintentionally uttering this one and to Katie Minnock for sending it in!

I don’t have them on handy

A witness was asked if she had documents in her posession and this was her response. This is a congruent conflation of “on hand” and “have (something) handy”, both meaning to have something readily accessible. A big hand to Sam Edelmann who heard this one and sent it in.

Obliverated

This single word blend malaphor was overheard in a discussion about what everyone did the night before. One was describing his drunken state and that he was totally obliverated. This is a mashup of “obliterated” (slang for very drunk) and “oblivion” (the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening). Both words are used to discuss excess drinking (e.g., “drank themselves into oblivion”), hence the mental mixup. And of course the “liver” is involved. A toast and cheers to Skip Kennedy for hearing this one and sending it in!

Behind the set of Squid Game

A video about the making of the TV show “Squid Game” is called “Behind the Set of Squid Game”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Rei-EpAB8

This is a mashup of “behind the scenes” (out of sight of the public) and “on the set” (area where a movie or tv show is in production). A tip of the toque to arensb for sending this one in!

He had a face only a radio could love

This is a congruent conflation of “a face for radio” and “a face only a mother could love”, both meaning to describe an unattractive face. A big thanks to WR for uttering this one by mistake and sending it in.

They’re willing to die on that sword

This one is from episode 705 of the Podcast, True Crime Garage (15:33 mark). It was spoken by one of the hosts of the podcast, Patrick “the Captain” Edwards:

“People come to me with opinons and they’re willing to die on that sword and not listen to anybody or anything.”

This is a mashup of two military expressions – “fall on (one’s) sword” (to accept responsibility or blame for a problem or mistake) and “die on this hill” (to pursue an action with total conviction). Both of these expression concern someone doing something wholeheartedly with no reservations.

A big thank you to Vicki Ameel-Kovacs for hearing this one and sending it in!